Moving spiral cyclorama.



. PATENTED, 0037.18, 1904'. L. H. MARTIN. v MOVING SPIRAL GYGLORAMA.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

No.- 772,570. I PATENTED OCT. 13, 1904.

' L. H. MARTIN.

MOVING SPIRAL GYOLO-RAMA.

APPLIOATION rum JAN. 5, 1904. 1:0 MODEL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES Patented October 18, 1904 PATENT OFFICE.

.LOUIE H. MARTIN, OF NEW -YORK, N. Y ASSIGNOR TO GLOBE AMUSE- MENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOVING SPIRAL CYCLORAMA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,570, dated. October 18, 19 04.

. Application filed-Tannery 5, 1 9%. Serial No. 187,791. (No: model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIE H. MARTIN, a citi zen of France, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moving Spiral Oycloramas,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to moving spiral cycloramas.

It consists in providing within a closed struc-. ture a spiral flooring constructed around a vertical axis, and upon which flooring and its con-v ..tiguous side walls and ceilings cycloramic and panoramic objects and scenes are placed and painted with proper stage settings and mountings and with visual and audible accessories to make the scenery as realistic as possible to a spectator.

The invention also consists in providing a carwhich by suitablemotor mechanism is revolved around the axis of the structure, the

platform: of which is spiral, coinciding with the pitch of the floor and being supported by wheels running on a track upon the floor and the platform having seats from which the spectators may view the passing scenery as- 1 resent the surface of the earth, and in constructing the outer shell portion so that it may have a rotary motion around the axis through proper motor apparatus provided therefor, so as to simulate the axial rotation of the earth. a

The invention also consists in providing suitable supports to securely hold the structure in proper position and in providing means of entrance and exit to and from its interior, andin such other novel construction as will be hereinafter more fully described, and specially pointed out in the claims.

The object of this invention is to provide an instructive scenic apparatus that shall be educational and entertaining and illustrating the geographical appearance and axial motion of the earth and suggesting observations, im-

' tors seats thereon.

with its south pole resting upon an axial foundation and itsnorth pole as held in a vertical position by means of three braces connected thereto like a tripod, the lower extremities of 5 which rest uponand are secured to suitable foundations'in the ground to give the edifice properstability. This figure also shows the double means of entrance and exit provided f I' access toand from the interior of the .7 globe, the lower opening communicating with i a flight of stairs to the ground and the upper. opening connecting by a short bridge with an elevator-tower equipped with a suitable passenger-elevator mechanism anollstairs also leading to the ground. It also shows'the relative rev oluble and stationary portions of the outer shell of the structure and its decorated; exterior earth-like appearance. 7 Fig. 2 is a verf tical'sectional view of Fig. 1, showing the inte-' rior construction and appearance of the wholestructure, including its axis, the spiral floor, some of the views and objects therein, the spectators-ca'r mechanism, and the revoluble portion of the shell and its motor mechanism. It 5 also shows the interior arrangements for entrance and exit andof the elevator mechanism and stairs'in connection therewith. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view ofthe car with its platform partly removed to show the arrangement'of its 9 motor mechanism and the track upon which the car runs andits relation with the axis of the structureand the spiral floor therein, which is also shown in part. Fig. it is a top view of the car and the arrangement of the specta- Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the connection of the braces with the top of the structure and the upper opening in the latter and the plan of the bridge leading therefrom to the elevator-shaft and elevators connecting therewith. Fig. 6 represents a vertical sectional view of the outer-shell of the structure, made with vertical walls and emergency means of exit, as a modified form of construction of the invention. Fig. 7 is a horizontal or plan view of the form of structure shown in Fig. 6, with the walls constructed as of cylindrical shape; and Fig. 8 is asimilar view, only showing the outer walls of the structure as of octagonal form of construction.

In the drawings, A A A represent sections of a spiral floor, supported by the outer side walls B B B of the inclosing structure or building, which may be of any suitable construction that will give proper support and stability to the edifice and which are shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5 as being in the form of a sphere and in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 as vertical. The outer edges A A of the floor A join with the side wall B in a manner similar to that in any ordinary building having floors therein when the structure is as in the form shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8; but when it is made in the spherical shape the latter necessitates inner walls B. B, as seen in Fig. 2, that their interior surfaces may be vertical for the scenes C C to be painted or mounted thereon in the most effective position for observation. The floor A can have placed in suitable positions thereonobjects representing buildings, trains in motion, ships, docks, and all other cycloramic imitations andefi'ects that may be desired and as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The car D consists of a circular platform D, which revolves around the vertical tubular axis E of the structure and the outer edge D of which is mounted upon wheels D D which run upon a track A upon the inner edge A of the floorA and which edge terminates at a short distance inside of the track A A similar wheel-and-track arrangement is provided for the car-platform at its inner edge D, the track E being secured in position around the axial tube E. In this way the car-platform D has its outer and inner edges supported by wheels running upon the corresponding tracks A E, thereby insuring a smooth-running bearing for the car while in motion, and the wheels running thereon being grooved to give the carproper guidance in its axial rotation around the central tube E. Motion is communicated to the car D by the electric motor F and shaft F, having the gears F F on its inner and outer ends, respectively, and which engage with the rack G upon the floor A inside of the track A and the corresponding rack G, secured to the tube E above the corresponding track E thereon, respectively, and as seen in Fig. 3. The gears F and F have their respective pitch diameters of proper proportional dimensions to suit the corresponding diameters of the racks G (3" and so that the power will be applied uniformly at both edges of the platform D of the car D.

F' F 5 represent independent motors to apply the power to the gears engaging with the racks G G as an alternative method of applying the power in moving the car, and the intermediate gearing necessary in transmitting the power from the motors being omitted for purposes of clearness of illustration.

The car D is provided with a brake l) and seats D" D for the spectators and over which a canopy D may be arranged, if desired, so as to limit the field of vision to the door and wall upon which the scenery is arranged. The platform D of the car I) is constructed with a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the floor A and so as to coincide therewith as the car revolves around the axis E and up and down thereon in making a trip from the top to the bottom of the structure, and vice versa, and while the spectators are observing the scenery in passing the latter. By this construction it can be seen that the car-platform D has a pitch of one complete spiral, the upper and lower radial edges of which are directly over each other, as seen at l) in Fig. 4, and the floor D having the correspomling pitch resulting from such construction. By this arrangement the car-platform D will always slope upwardly from the floor A no matter what position the car may be in during its rotation around the tube E, while making its trip up and down with the spectators and giving the latter an unobstructed view of the scenery.

In Fig. 2 the car D is shown in position near the top of the globe ready to make a trip down to the bottom of the structure. The spectators can reach the car in this position by entering the tower H through the door ll, taking one of the elevators l 1,.which by means of the motor mechanism J and :able J conveys them to the bridge K, connecting near the top H of the tower H, and which bridge leads through the opening K in the globe to the car D. The tower H is provided with a stairway H that can be used by the spectators at any time in an emergency and independent of the elevators .l I. When the car D completes its trip downuuirdly, the spectators can'use the openingL near the bottom of the structure as a means of exit and thence by the flight of stairs M reach the ground. The course of entering and leaving the structure thus described can be reversed, as can be understood, thereby giving the spectators the trip up to the top in a reverse order and so that when the trip is completed they can leave by way of the bridge K and the elevators I l, and thereby reach the ground in that direction. This arrangement gives the use of the car D in both directions, thereby saving IIO ' any loss of time that'might occur if the car carried its passengers in one direction only while viewing the scenery.-

VVhen the structureis made in'the form of aglobe representing the earth and a rotary motion is. to be given to a portion of its exterior surface, this result is'effected by making that portion B of its outer'shell between the bridge K and the opening L independent of the main wall B and slightly larger than the -'latter,-with its lower edge B resting upon grooved rollers B B, mounted upon brack- IY ets B 13 secured to the main wall B. A similar roller-and-bracket arrangement B is provided near its upper edge B I By this arrangement the upper and lower edges'B B of the outer shell B are guided concentric ally in horizontal planes around the axis E and in a horizontal direction as motion is given to it by means of the electric motor device N through a gear-and-rack arrangement NI, somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 3

-formoving the car D. Controlling devices vto control the supply of electricity required to operate the motor mechanisms shown may bearranged at any suitable locations within or near the structure and through which the whole apparatus can be actuated as desired.

- Q Q, Q rest upon foundations O O O, and 35' to aband E around the upper end E of the axial tube E, thereby giving stability of position to the latter and the whole structure.

their upper extremities Q, Q, Q are secured When the walls of the structure are vertical, as seenin Fig. 6, their construction is like that of anybuilding and as canbe understood without further description. i

A hollow star-shaped figure R is secured to the top of the axial tube E to represent the north star and which may be illuminated at night to be visible. A hollow sphere S, representing the moon, also surmounts the ele-- vator-towerH and which can likewise be illuminated at night, so as to be readily seen. The contour of the continents and countries on the surface of the globe can be shown by electric lights at night and the whole apparatus otherwiseso illuminated as to be operated, viewed, and patronized by night as well as in the day-time.

The whole structure can be made of any. convenient size and of any suitable material, but is preferably made of iron, steel, brick, or stone, exclusively, to be fireproof and with proper means of exit T T for emergencies, as already referred to.

The views, pictures, scenic objects, and effects can be varied indefinitely, and thus give an endless change of entertainment and instruction to the spectators and patrons of the structure, and the motion of the car can be apparatus compared with ordinary cycloramas, where all is stationary to the spectator and everything is viewed from one plane.

or point. A guideor lecturer is supposed to travel with the car during its trip and to explain the'subjects of interest in the scenery to the spectators. V

- From the'foregoing description the operation of the whole apparatus can be easily understood. The spectators are admitted to the interior of the structure through either of the entrances, as already described, and where the car will be in readiness to convey them thereon spirally up or down, as the case may be, and bringing all the scenery and eifects in successive views before themas they ride along and pass it by on the severalconvolu- 'tions of the floor and the walls where it appears until the end of the'trip is reached, when they can then leave the place by the tude parallel with the equator, as indicated by the dotted lines in the figure instead of as by thefull lines thereon, and the geographsphere and that such a modification would be.

within the scope of this invention.

It can thus be seen that I provide a novel apparatus of an educational and entertaining character that is complete in construction .andoperation and in every .way adapted to meet the requirements ofsuch a structure and which can be understood without further illustration or description. 7

Having thus described my invention, what IIO I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat.

ent,-is q 1. A cyclorama consisting of a floor conupon which panoramic and cycloramie scenes and objects may be arranged, substantially as specified.

2. A cyclorama consisting of a floor constructed in the form of a vertical spiral with a wall around its outer edge, and upon which panoramic and cycloramic scenes and objects may be arranged, and a spectators car adapted to run around a vertical axis and in a spiral direction coinciding with the pitch of the floor, and from which the spectators may view the scenery and objects aforesaid, and combined, substantially as specified.

3. A cyclorama consisting of a floor constructed around a vertical axis in the form of a spiral with a wall around its outer edge, and upon which panoramic and cycloramie scenes and objects may be arranged, and a spectators car adapted to run upon a track on said floor and from which the spectators can view the scenery and objects, and all combined, substantially as specified.

4. In a cyclorama, the combination of a vertical spiral floor with a wall around its outer edge, and upon which panoramic or cycloramic scenes and objects are arranged, a spectators car provided with means for its movement upon said floor and adapted to give the spectators a view of the scenes and objects while the car is in motion, substantially as specified.

5. In a cyclorama, the combination of a spiral floor having scenery thereon, a car adapted to move upon said floor and give spectators a continuous view of the scenery while upon the car and during its motion upon said floor, substantially as specified.

6. In a cyclorama, the combination of a vertical spiral floor, a central vertical axis and a spectators car, adapted to move around and up and down the axis, and in a spiral direction coinciding with the spiral pitch of the floor, substantially as specified.

7. A cyclorama constructed in the shape of a globe with a rotative exterior surface representing the earth, substantially as specified.

8. A cyclorama constructed in the shape of a globe representing the earth, and provided with means for giving a portion of its outer surface an axial rotary movement, substantially as specified.

9. A cyclorama constructed in the shape of a globe representing the earth, and provided with scenery in its interior and having means for entering and leaving the same, consisting of the elevator mechanism, I, and the bridge, K substantially as specified.

10. A globe shaped cycloran'ia mounted upon a vertical axis and provided with means for connecting its upper extremity externally with the ground and thereby maintaining it in a stable vertical position, substantially as specified.

11. A globe shaped cyclorama mounted upon a vertical axis, the upper end of which is maintained in a stable position from the ground by means of the braces, Q, Q, Q, and combined, substantially as specified.

12. A globe shaped cyclorama mounted upon a vertical axis, and provided with the double means of access to and from its interior, consisting of the opening, L, and stairs, M, leading therefrom, and the opening, K, bridge, K, and elevator mechanism, 1, substantially as specified.

13. In a globe-shaped cyclorama, representing the earth upon its exterior surface, the combination of a vertical spiral floor. a central vertical axis and a spectators car, adapted to move around and up and down the axis, and in a spiral direction coinciding with the spiral pitch of the floor, and the structure being provided with the double means of access to and from its interior, consisting of the opening, L, the stairs, M, leading therefrom, and the opening, K, bridge, K, and elevator mechanism, I, and all arranged, substantially as specified.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 2d day of January, A. D. 1904.

LOUIE H. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

J. 'I. IRVINE, E. MARTIN. 

